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CHAPTERTWELVE
Alissa took a big bite of her fish sandwich, humming in pleasure to herself. The fish was fried and the sauce was creamy, but somehow, it managed not to feel too heavy. It made her feel as if it were the middle of the summer, sitting on the beach and enjoying her day. Maybe the freshness of the fish was what made it feel light. She had been in town long enough to know that Braden’s fishing company was one of the suppliers for The Crab, so everything was incredibly fresh.
Actually fresh, too, not the “fresh” that she saw at restaurants back in Denver. She wasn’t sure how she could go back to eating fish that hadn’t been caught that day.
She had tried almost every sandwich at The Crab, but choosing a favorite was impossible. And it didn’t help that there were inventive specials every few days. Some days they were twists on classics like a tuna melt, and other days they invented entirely new sandwiches with other forms of protein or just veggies.
Alissa crunched on a chip and sipped her cider, soaking in the atmosphere. The Crab was always a hub for Blueberry Bay, though the crowd changed depending on the time of day.
The morning was for fishermen coming back in from time on the water. The physical labor made their appetites fierce and they were more than happy to eat at least two sandwiches. Lunch was for people on their lunch break, of course. Blueberry Bay had a few offices for local businesses, and some days it felt like they all went to The Crab. The evenings were the most mixed. Families, students, and other young professionals gathered on the heated patio or inside, enjoying their food and drinks.
Hannah was always behind the counter, serving up food with a smile. She kept Alissa up to date on all the happenings in town, some of which led to articles. Her father Willis sometimes made an appearance too. The gruff man wasn’t much for conversation, but he made incredible desserts. Alissa couldn’t wait to dig into one, though she wasn’t sure which one to choose. That was a problem for later.
Alissa polished off her sandwich, cleaning her fingers with her napkin before grabbing her pen. She had brought her notebook to work on her book idea. The Crab was the perfect place to do some subtle people-watching for inspiration.
She had her main characters down—the sailor and the siren—and now she was trying to think of the supporting characters. The book was set in an area like this, a small, tight-knit community where everyone knew each other. She tapped her pen on her notebook and looked around the room again.
An elderly couple sat across from a younger couple, smiles on their faces as they chatted. How had they met? Were they related in some way? She couldn’t quite tell, but she liked their dynamic. They laughed together, and after some more chatter, someone went to get dessert for the table.
A few ideas clicked in her head. Unlikely friends. Maybe the sailor’s best friend was warm and smiley, a contrast to the sailor’s. She scribbled down some more ideas until her dinner had settled, then went up to the counter again for dessert.
“What do you recommend?’ Alissa asked Hannah, looking up at the chalkboard menu. “Or I guess the better question is what’s left?”
“That is a good question. People have been loving the desserts today.” Hannah turned around. “But luckily for you, we have a little bit of everything.”
“Ah, now it’ll be even harder to decide!” Today’s options were key lime pie, mud pie, carrot cake, and gigantic chocolate chip cookies.
“I’ll tell you what—I’ll put together a little sampler for you so it’s easier for you to decide,” Hannah said.
“Really? That would be amazing. You’re sure, though?”
“I’m very sure.” Hannah looked around, a sly smile on her face. “Plus I’m giving myself a little too.”
Alissa laughed and Hannah put together a plate with two bite sized portions of each dessert on it. Hannah handed her a fork and dove right into the key lime pie. Alissa followed suit. It was just the right blend of tart and creamy, and the crust contrasted the softness of the filling perfectly.
Then, they moved onto the mud pie. It was another winner—chocolate on chocolate on chocolate with a touch of whipped cream. The carrot cake was moist and the cream cheese frosting was to die for. Topping it off with a bite of the gooey chocolate chip cookie left Alissa farther away from making a decision than ever. They were all delicious.
“Can you pick for me?” Alissa asked. “I think I’ll be happy with anything.”
“Gotcha! The mud pie is my favorite, so let’s go with that.” Hannah got Alissa a slice and Alissa paid.
“Thank you!”
Alissa took her pie back to her table and got back to her work. Hannah made a great choice. The pie was decadent but not so heavy that it’d make her want to fall asleep right then and there. She alternated between her work on her novel and questions for the surfing event tomorrow. She didn’t notice the restaurant clearing out until Hannah walked past her and turned off the “open” sign.
“Oh, it’s so late. I’m sorry—I’ll get out of here.” Alissa started to clear out, but Hannah waved her off as if to saydon’t worry about it.
“You can hang out. I still have some closing tasks to handle and you look deep in thought.” Hannah smiled. “What are you working on?”
“Some work stuff and some fun stuff. Though they’re both fun, to be honest.” Alissa flipped back a few pages in her notes for her novel. “I’m coming up with questions to ask at the surfing competition tomorrow, and also working on my novel.”
“Wow, that’s so cool.” Hannah grabbed a rag and a bottle of cleaning spray, starting at a table close to Alissa. “What’s your book about?”
“A sailor and a siren. At least that’s what I’m working with right now.” Alissa shrugged, her cheeks warming. On several levels, she knew her writing was good, but talking about her fiction writing when she had put it away for years made her feel exposed.
“I’m sure it’ll be great. Your articles are really cool.” Hannah wiped down a table and moved onto the next one. “Your life sounds cool, honestly.”
Alissa chuckled. “Honestly, it doesn’t feel like that sometimes. I’m not as far as I expected to be by now.”
